Three piece separable section chain connector and the like



March 17, 1959 w. K. ROBBINS 2,877,621

THREE PIECE SEPARABLE SECTION CHAIN CONNECTOR AND THE LIKE! Fi1 ed March21 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR William K. Robb/n8 2,877,621 THREEPIECE SEPARABLE SECTION CHAIN CONNECTOR AND THE LIKE Filed March 21,1955 March '17, 1959 K. ROBBINS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

ATTORNEY United States Patent THREE PlECE SEPARABLE SECTION- CHAINCONNECTOR AND THE LIKE William K. Robbins, Milwaukee, Wis. ApplicationMarch 21, 1955 Serial No. 495,381 13 Claims. (Cl. 59-88) 'My inventionrelates to separable section chain links and other loop form connectorsand while especially suited for the connection of the sling and pullchains to a dragline bucket, it may be used for many other purposes suchas an anchor chain connector, etc.

Heretofore it has been deemed necessary in establishing a lift sling, orpull chain, connection to a dragline type of excavating bucket, toemploy a solid wear ring which is secured directly to each bucket clevisor other fitting, and to secure the sling and pull chain terminals tosuch wear rings. Such wear rings are also employed to establish chainconnection to ship anchors and to many other items. 7

Such wear rings are not only costly, especially in large sizes, but whenthey require replacement it is necessary to disconnect them from boththe chain terminal and the drag bucket clevis or other fitting. This isnecessarily a time-consuming and hence a costly operation, as is alsothe installation of a new Wear ring; and often the necessary tools,etc., are not available at the time and place where the job has to bedone as in the case of a diver working under water to fix a brokenanchor connection.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide aseparable section connector for the purpose specified which willeliminate the necessity for the use 7 of a wear ring in establishingchain or other connections with drag buckets, anchors, etc., theconnector serving the purpose of both a wear ring and as a separablesection chain link for makingconnection between a chain end and wearring.

Additionally, the invention contemplates a device of this kind which issimple in construction, strong and durable, and which can be quicklyapplied for. use or removed, even by a diver working under Water.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a connector for chain orother terminal members which are of different diameters and which willeffectually prevent members from jamming in the connector.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be understoodand appreciated by those versed in the art upon reference to theaccompanying drawings in connection with the detailed descriptionthereof appearing hereinafter.

It is emphasized that the disclosures hereof are to be taken asillustrative rather than limitative, as the invention is susceptible ofother mechanical expressions within the spirit and scope of the subjectmatter claimed hereinafter.

In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used todesignate the same parts 2,877,621 Patented Mar. 17, 1 a

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 2 -2" of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3-is a top plan view;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partly broken and partly in section,showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an element of the de vice of Fig. 4; i iV Fig. 6 is a view similar'to Fig. 4, showing a further modification;and i Fig. 7 is a side elevational view' of the connector of Fig. 6. i

Referring to the drawings by reference characters and turning first tothe form of invention shown in Figs. 1-4, inclusive, Fig. 1 shows aloop-form connector corriprising three main separable sections, namely,the arms 11 and 12' and the U-shaped member 13. The inner ends of therespective arms 11 and 12 have a separable load-sustaining connectionwith the side limbs of the U-shaped member 13, which latter defines oneend of the connector and parts of opposite sides thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, each of the arms 11, 12 is somewhat sickle-shaped inthat they provide substantially straight socket-providing inner ends11b, 12b and curved outer portions which define the second end of theloop.- form' connector and have interfitting tongue and bifurcationterminals 11a, 12a, respectively (see Figs; 1 and 3). As indicated inFigs. 1 and 3, each of the arm terminals 11a, 12a extend throughout themajor portion of the second end of the loop-form connector and portionsof the inner edges of each of said terminals 11a, 12a are subjected tothe longitudinal load applied by member it). Thus, each arm terminal11a, 12:; cooperates to sustain the longitudinal load applied to thatend of the connector by the ring or fitting 10 shown in the largerportion of the connector which is defined by arms 11, 12 (see Fig. 1)'.

The load-sustaining connection between the socketp-roviding inner ends11b, 12b of arms 11, 12 will be described shortly; and it is to be notedthat Fig. 1 shows a chain link or the like 14 in the smaller end of theconnector which is provided by the U-member 13.

Referring again to the tongue and bifurcated arm portions 11a, 12a thespaced side walls 12c of the bifurcated portion 12a are shown to" beconnected by loadtransferring lugs 16, 17. These load-transferring lugs16, 17a are received in the seats 16a, 17a'that are provided in theinner and outer edge portions, respectively, of the tongue 11a, as shownin Fig. 1 As will be noted, the lug'16 is located adjacent the inneredges of walls of bifurcated'portion 12a near the free end of thelatter, while the lug 17a is positioned well inwardly of the free 'endof 12a and adjacent the top edges of walls 120 thereof.

Since, as earlier noted herein, portions of each of the inner edges ofarm terminals 11a, 12a are exposed to load pressure from member 10 inthe proximate end of said connector, a portion of such load will betransferred by 16, 16a and 17, 17a from one terminal 11a, 12a to theother. 7 I 1 Pivotally connecting the tongue portion 11a and thebifurcated portion 12a is a self-locking sleeve pin 18 which is driventhrough the aligned holes 11x in the side walls 120 of the bifurcationportion 11a; and through the somewhat enlarged hole 19 in the tongueportion 11a of the arm member 11. This sleeve pin 18'is not sub-1 jectedto any load when the connector is in service, any slight give that mayoccur in portions 11a, 1211 being compensated for by the hole 19 in thetongue portion 11a being oversized with respect to the sleeve pin 18. Itwill be apparent that if the arms 11, 12 are swungout wardly away fromone another, then the tongue seats 16a, 17a will move away from the lugs16, 17a, and vice versa.

Coming now to the load-supporting connection between the socketed innerends 11b, 12b of the arms 11, 12 with the limbs of the U-shaped member13, it will be noted that the latter are provided with outwardlyprojecting end stubs 28 which are received in the arm member sockets11b, 12b.

Since the limb terminals of the U-shaped member 13 and the socketportions 11b, 12b are duplicate assemblies, .adescription of onewillsufiice for both.

Thus, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the limbportions of the U-shaped member 13 are reduced in thickness inwardlyfrom their free ends as at 25 to provide fiat sides terminating inshoulders 24 at opposite sides of said limb portions. Each of thesockets 11b, 12b provides the laterally spaced side walls 20 whichdefine the socket space 21 which receives the fiat sided limb terminals,the inner end of each socket being defined by a wall 21a as indicated inFig. l.

. Connecting the side walls 20 of the socket members 110, 120, areload-sustaining bridge portions 22 which are located adjacent the outeredges of said side walls 20 and at the portions of said socket memberswhich are adjacent the limb shoulders 24, as also indicated in Fig. l.

The limb portions of the U-shaped member 13 have their outer edgeportions cut away to define the seats 27 for the related bridge member22; and also to provide the outwardly projecting studs 28 previouslyreferred to. The outwardly projecting studs 28 of the U-shaped mem ber13 provide the load-supporting shoulders 28a which engage the respectiveload-supporting shoulders 22a of the bridge members 22 as shown in Fig.1.

Referring to Fig. l and likewise to Fig. 2, it will be seen that eachstud 28 has an outwardly projecting lug portion 29 at each side at thesite of its forward rear corner. These lugs 29 as shown in Fig. 2, arereceived in recesses 30 opening from the inner edges of opposite sideWalls 20 of the sockets 11b, 12b. The lugs 29 and recesses 30 provideinterengaging load-supporting shoulders 29a, 30a, respectively, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. These interengaging lug and recess shoulders 29a, 30aserve to overcome any tendency that the stud ends 28 of the U-shapedmember 13 might have to bend inwardly in service as the result ofapplication of load thereto at the site of bridge shoulders 22a.However, where the connector is to be subjected to light duty only, thelugs 29 .and recesses 30 can be eliminated.

Fig. 1 also best illustrates the means for holding the studs 28 seatedin the arm sockets 11b, 12b. In carrying outthis phase of the invention,the outwardly directed studs 28 of the U-shaped member 13 have noseprojections 28b extending in the direction of the axis of the relatedlimb of U-shaped member 13. Spaced inwardly of each of said noseportions 28b is a shoulder 21b provided by the socket portion 11b (or12b) of the related arm 11, 12 and the parts are retained in position bymeans of a drive pin 31 driven through holes in the socket walls 20 tointerpose between the portions 28b, 21b. However, when pins 31 have beenremoved, it will be apparent that the related arm 11 or 12 can be swungoutwardly until the shoulders 28b and 21b engage; and when that happens,the outer end of the related stud 28 will lie inwardly of the plane ofthe inner surface of the associated socket bridge 22 so that theU-shaped member 13 can be simply pulled down out of the illustratedassembled relationship with the sockets 11b, 12b of the arms 11, 12.Also, outward movement of the arms 11, 12 as aforestated will unseat thearm socket lugs 16, 17 from the tongue seats 16a, 17a.

An important point to be noted is that when the connector is in serviceany tendency of the enlarged armprovided portion to lengthen, so tospeak, will be resisted by the portions 16, 16a and 17, 17a which resistmovement of the arms 11, 12 toward one another.

Referring to the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5,the connector there illustrated eliminates the use of a U-shaped membersuch as 13 of Fig. 1. In lieu thereof, the parallel inner ends of thearms 35, 36 are connected by the cross member 39 having the enlargements39a seated in the recesses 38 in the opposed inner surfaces of said arms35, 36.

The member 39 has reduced rivetable extensions 39b, which are extendedthrough holes 38a of said arms which communicate with the recesses 38.When the member 39 is in place, as shown in Fig. 5, the ends of 39b areriveted over as indicated at 39c to be received in flared enlargements38b of said holes 38a as shown.

The connector, as shown in Fig. 4, widens beginning at a point adjacentthe member 39, the said arms 35, 36 being curved for this purpose andterminating in interfitting portions 35b, 36b, corresponding to 11a,12a, respectively, of Fig. 1. The portion 36b is a bifurcation receivingthe tongue portion 35b in the same fashion as the tongue portion 11a ofFig. 1 is received between the sides of the bifurcation 12a of that formof the invention.

The bifurcation portion 35b provides diagonally disposed connectingcross lugs 40, 41 which are received in seats 40a, 41a, in oppositeedges of the tongue portion 36b of the member 36. In this respect, theFig. 4 form of the invention conforms to that illustrated in Fig. l; andthere is also the drive pin 42 which is carried by the arm portion 36band connects the portions 35b, 36b against separation, the arm portion35b providing the enlarged pin-surrounding hole 19, as shown. The crossmember 39 is shown as carrying the end link of a chain 44 while theenlarged portion of the connector is shown receiving a ring or clevismember 43.

Referring to the further modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 this dealswith a low-priced connector, particularly for relatively small-sizedchains, say 7%" or less in crosssection. Here again is a three-partconnector providing the generally sickle-shaped arms 45 and 46 havingthe sockets 47 adjacent their parallel lower ends for seating the endsof a load-carrying cross bar 49. The transverse sockets 47 are deeperthan the thickness of the endadjacent seating portions 49a of bar 49, asshown, and load-sustaining bridge portions 48 connect opposite sides ofthe respective sockets 47. Each end of the cross bar 49 beyond therelated bridge seat 49a has a nose portion 50 overlying the outer sideof the adjacent socket bridge 48 to prevent outward swinging of arms 45,46. Drive pins 52 extending through holes 51 in the walls of sockets 48engage the back edge of cross bar 49 to retain it seated on socketbridges 48.

The outer end formation of arms 45, 46 is similar to that of the arms11, 12 of Fig. 1 and to arms 35, 36 of Fig. 4. Thus a tongue terminal45a of arm 45 is received in the bifurcation 46a of arm 46; and recesses47a, 48a of the tongue engage the bifurcation (46a) carried cross pins47a, 48 to provide the load-sustaining outer end of the connector. Aconnector pin 49 carried by arm portion 46a and corresponding to pin 18of Fig. 1 retains 45a, 46a against accidental separation. Pin 49 isspacedly surrounded by the enlarged hole which is provided by the otherarm portion 45a.

In each form of the invention it is to be noted that the pairs of lugand seat assemblies such as 16, 16a and 17, 17a of Fig. 1; 40, 40a and41, 41a of Fig. 2; and 47, 47a and 48, 48a of Fig. 6 are so spaced as toadmit of insertion of an arm portion therebetween when assembling thearms. Also in each instance, when the arms (45, 46, for instance inFigs. 6 and 7) are assembled, the pairs of lug and seat assemblies actat least as initial pivots for the lateral swinging of diiferent ones ofsaid arms; and also prevent relative bodily shifting of the armslongitudinally of the connector.

Also referring to Fig. 6, it will be evident that when the pins 52 havebeen removed and cross bar 48 has been shifted upwardly, at least theleft arm 46 (see Fig. 6)

can beswung laterally outward about the cross-pin 48 as an axis to openthe lower part of the link; with the cross bar 49 still supported in adownwardly rocked position in the right hand seat49a as viewed in. Fig;6. Similarly as to Fig. 4, when the left hand end of 39c, 39b and therelated enlarged portion 39a of 39 has been driven out of 38a, 38, theleft arm 36 (Fig. 4) can-be swung laterally outward about its seat 41aand the cross lug (or pin) 41 as a pivot.

Obviously, the arm-connecting pivot pins suehas 18. in Fig. 1, can bedispensed with.

Furthermore, it is important to note that the connector end-providingmembers such as 13 in Fig. l, 39 in Fig. 4, and 49 in Fig. 6 may beconsidered as a functionally integral part of one of the link limbportion-providing arms such as 11, 12 in Fig. 1 since only one of saidarms need be swung outwardly to enable chain parts or the like to beremoved from the connector.

When, for instance, the arm 12 of Fig. l is to be swung outwardly abouteither lug 17 or pin 18 as an axis following removal of the related pin31, and while the U-mem-ber 13 remains rigidly connected to thecompanion arm 11, such action is permitted to take place regardless ofwhether shoulders 28b and 21b engage. Engagement of shoulders 28b and21b simply cams arm 12 upward slightly to allow 21!) to pass 28b, suchaction being permitted by the hole (19) provided space about pin 18, ifthe latter is used.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. In a loop form connector of the class described, an end memberproviding one end of said connector and having laterally spaced terminalportions defining side parts of said connector, :1 pair of laterallyspaced arms completing the sides of said connector and having inturnedsidewardly overlapping end portions of substantially equal length, saidinturned overlapping end portions constituting the opposite end of saidconnector and providing substantially aligned load-supporting inneredges, the other ends of said arms and said terminal portions of saidend member having laterally interconnectable load-sustaining portions,said inturned overlapping end portions carrying a pair of stud portionsand a pair of seat portions, each of said stud portions interengagingwith one of said seat portions to transmit loads between saidoverlapping end portions and to provide pivot form supports for saidarms, said interengaging stud and seat portions being spaced in thedirection of the length of said overlapping end portions with the studscarried by the inturned end portion of one of said arms and the seats bythe inturned end portion of the other of said arms so as to admit ofinsertion of the seat-providing arm portion between said studs whenassembling or disassembling the arms, and the respective seat portionsopening from said load-supporting edge and from the opposite edge ofsaid seat-providing arm portion, whereby to mount at least one of saidarms for lateral swinging movement with respect to one of stud portionsas an axis while at the same time preventing relative bodily movement ofthe assembled arms longitudinally of the connector.

2. The structure of claim 1, and a removable pivotpermitting meansconnecting said overlapping arm portions between said pairs of stud andseat portions.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 and a removable load-free pivotpermitting means connecting said overlapping arm portions midway betweensaid pairs of lugs and seats, at least one of said overlapping portionsproviding a clearance space surrounding said pivot means.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, and said connector end-providingmember comprising a cross piece having enlargements adjacent each endand diametrically reduced rivetable reductions as extensions of saidenlargements, and said arms having opposed surface recesses receivingthe respective cross piece enlargements, each of said arm recesseshaving a transverse hole extending through said arm, and the rivetablereductions passing through said holes and -peened out at the-exteriorsurfaces of said arms. I

5. The structure of claim 1, and said-end member comprising asubstantially U-shaped member having side l'egs providingsaid connectorside part-,definingifiterminal portions. l

6. The structure of claim 1, and said end member comprising asubstantially U-shaped: member having. side legs providing saidconnector side part-definingt'erminal portions, andv substantiallyload-free: and removable means mutually engaging said laterallyinterconnectable load-sustaining portions at each side of said connectorfor maintaining the same in operative engagement.

7. The structure of claim 1, and said end member comprising asubstantially U-shaped member having side legs providing said connectorside part-defining terminal portions, and removable and substantiallyload-free means pivotally connecting the inturned overlapping endportions of said arms against separation.

8. The structure of claim 1, and said end member comprising asubstantially U-shaped member having side legs providing said connectorside part-defining terminal portions, and said laterallyinterconnectable load-sustaining portions comprising in each instance astud and a socket.

9. The structure of claim 1, and said end member comprising asubstantially U-shaped member having side legs providing said connectorside part-defining terminal portions, and said laterallyinterconnectable loadsustaining portions comprising inwardly openingarmprovided sockets and outwardly directed studs provided by theU-member-provided terminal portions.

10. The structure of claim 1, and said end member comprising asubstantially 'U-shaped member having side legs providing said connectorside part-defining terminal portions, and the U-member legs and adjacentportions of said arms being spaced closer together than the arm portionsadjacent the opposite end of said connector, whereby the latter isadapted to accommodate different sized elements in opposite endportions.

11. The structure of claim 1, and one of said inturned and sidewardlyoverlapping arm portions comprising a tongue while the other of said armportions comprises a bifurcation receiving said tongue.

12. The structure of claim 1, and one of said inturned and sidewardlyoverlapping arm portions comprising a tongue while the other of said armportions comprises a bifurcation receiving said tongue, said studs beingcarried by the bifurcated arm portion and said seats formed in the armportion-provided tongue.

13. A loop form connector for chains and the like comprising a pair ofseparable laterally spaced connector side limb portion-providing armshaving inturned, substantially longitudinally coextensive, andsidewardly overlapping end portions constituting one load-sustaining endof the connector; said inturned arm portions providing substantiallyaligned load-supporting inner edges, the other end of one of said armshaving a functionally integral portion constituting the secondload-supporting end of said connector and having a limb portion opposingterminal, laterally interconnectable load-supporting portions providedby said terminal and the second end of said other arm, two interengagingload transmitting and arm pivot-providing stud and seat portions carriedby the overlapping connector end-providing arm portions, said stud andseat portions being spaced in the direction of the length of theoverlapping arm portions with the studs carried by one arm portion andthe seats by the other arm portion so as to admit of insertion of theseatproviding portion between the studs when assembling or disassemblingthe arms, and the respective seat portions opening from theload-sustaining arm edge and from the opposite longitudinal edge,whereby to shiftably support said arms and to mount at least one of thesame for lateral swinging movement with respect to one of saidReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSClements May 25, 1875 Rodeo Sept. 8, 1896 Thompson Nov. 23, 1897 10Carter Mar. 5, 1901 Clark Oct. 16, 1928' Crockett Feb. 19, 1929 SeegerNov. 19, 1929 Robbins Sept. 18, 1945 Ratigan Nov. 4, 1952' Waller Ian.25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 Great Britain Oct. 25, 1928

